System of electrical signaling.



E. A. HUMMEL.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALING.

APPLIGATION FILED 001'. 29, 190B.

Patented May 26, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. A. HUMMEL.

SYSTEM OF ELEGTRIGAL SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED 00mm, 1908.

Patented May 26, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. A. HUMMEL.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALING.

APPLIGATION FILED 00129, 1908.

1,097,636, 1 Patented May 26,1914.

4 SHEETSSHEIBT 3.

E. A. IIUMMEL.

SYSTEM-OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED 00129, 1908.

Patented May 26, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO, WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oE IoE.

ERNEST A. HUMMEL, or sT. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALING.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST A. I-IUMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electrical Signaling, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of synchronizing a series of clocks from a master clock, its object being to provide a system of signals electrically transmitted that will automatically throw the clocks to be synchronized into circuit with the master clock at a predetermined time, its object being further to provide a system of signals which will keep the operator advised ofthe passage of the minutes preceding the synchronizing of the clocks.

In the ordinary system it is customary to send time signals over the wires daily at a certain hour as by switching a master clock into a main line which clock operates a ticker during a certain number of minutes before the local clock is to be synchronized, generally making a distinction at the end of every minute for the information of the operator. The operator is supposed to close the circuit during the end of the last minute so that the ticker at the full end of the minute will close the local circuit and set the clock, after which the operator may open the switch and allow the telegraphing over the lines to be resumed.

In my system, signals are sent over the main wire from the master clock during a certain number of minutes at the end of a predetermined hour. The apparatus for sending the signals preferably spells out for the first minute of signaling the word Time for the information of the operator, the following minutes being respectively described by a series of ticks as three dots every two seconds and a dash at the end of the minute, two dots every two seconds and a dash at the end of the next minute, and two second dashes and two second spaces and a different distinction at the end of the last minute such as a long space. The series of signals during the last minute sent over the wire will actuate certain mechanism in connection with the local clock circuit. In my invention these signals consist of a series of interspaced two second dashes and spaces with a long space at the end of the minute and a final dash. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1908.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Serial No. 460,036.

structed and arranged as not to be actuated by longer or shorter dots and dashes, and consequently is not affected by the ordinary telegraphing which takes place over the main line, but is only actuated by a certain number of spaces and dashes of predetermined length as the two second dashes and spaces.

Tothat end the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the mechanism for carrying out my in vention, Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for carrying out the purposes of my invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the controlling mechanism arranged in connection with each clock to be synchronized; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of part of the mechanism Shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in differently adjusted positions; Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of the mechanism arranged in connection with each local clock showing certain parts in released position; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a locking switch arranged in connection with the local clock mechanism which is actuated at the time of synchronizing; Fig. 8 is a detail of the switch arm shown in Fig. 7 taken on line w-w of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a view of the switch arm shown in Fig. 8 taken at right angles with Fig. 7 showing the supporting pivot for the switch arm in section; Fig. 10 is a detail of part of the mechanism shown 'in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings Arepresents the master clock or sending line which connects with the main line B through the relay 2. WVithin the circuit A is arranged the master clock of which the commutator C forms a part. The commutator is made of separated sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the section 2 being neutral as shown and the other four sections being connected respectively with the auxiliary circuits D, E, F and G arranged in connection with the master clock circuit A.

T represents a commutator brush connected with one end of the circuit A through a contact 7 and adapted to be actuated by the master clock mechanism not shown. In using my invention the brush will remain upon the neutral segment 2 for the entire twenty-four hours except during the last minutes of the 24th hour in which the oper-, ations :ttendant upon the synchronizing are taking place.

Arranged in the auxiliary circuit 1) is a circuit breaker consisting of a fixed contact 8 and a movable contact 9. When the circuit D is closed by reason of the brush 1 being in engagement with the commutator sec tion 8, said auxiliary circuit will be opened and closed by the movable contact 9 being actuated by a suitably actuated disk 10. The disk 10 is so cut away upon its outer edge as to actuate the movable contact 9 in such way as to make impulses spelling the word Time for each rotation of the disk. It will be evident that the making and breaking of the circuit D by the disk 10 will similarly make and break the main circuit B through the relay 2, actuating the sounder J and also through the relay 11 making and breaking the circuit 12 of the local clock H. The relay 11 in the drawings is shown separate from the local relay 13, but it will be evident that the local relay 13 may be so constructed as to include the functions of a local relay as well as the functions of the relay 11.

Within the local circuit 12 is arranged the mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 5 which effect the synchronizing of a local clock. This mechanism is so arranged as will be hereinafter described) as not to be actuated by the impulses transmitted by the disk 10, whereby the word Time is spelled out upon the local sounder for the benefit of the operator. The brush I stays upon the segment 3 for one full minute being in practies the 57th minute of the 24th hour. At the end of the 57th minute the brush, by means of the master clock mechanism not shown is made to jump from the commutator segment 3 to the commutator segment 4 connecting up with the master clock circuit A the auxiliary circuit E. Within the auxiliary circuit E is arranged a make and break consisting of a fixed contact l t and a movable contact 15, the movable contact 15 being arranged to be operated by the suitably rotated disk 16. The disk 16 is so constructed as to so make and break the auxiliary line E as to repeat three telegraphic dots continuously every two seconds during the minute with a dash at the end of the minute. In the ordinary manner these dots scribed and dashes are transmitted through the mainline B to the local clock line 12 apprising the operator that the third minute before the synchronizing is passing. At the end of the 58th minute the commutator brush umps from the segment 4; to the segment 5 putting the auxiliary circuit F into connection with the master clock circuit A. Within this circuit F are arranged the fixed and movable contacts 17 and 18 in connection with a suitably rotated disk 19. The disk 19 transmits to the local line 12 a succession of two dots throughout the minute with a dash at the end of the minute indicating to the operator that the minute next to the last minute before the synchronizing is passing. At the end of the 59th minute the commutator brush jumps to the segment 6 connecting the auxiliary circuit G with the master clock circuit A. Within the auxiliary circuit G is arranged fixed contact 20 and movable contact 21 adapted to be actuated by a suitably rotated disk 22. The disk 22 is so constructed as to send a succession of two second dashes and spaces through the main line to the secondary circuit 12 with a long space and a dash at the end of the minute and a dot at the beginning and middle of minute.

The mechanism arranged within the local circuit 12 is actuated to cause the synchronizing of the clock H in the followin demanner. 23 represents an electro arranged in connection with the cirand 2-1 is a pivotally supported armature in connection therewith. The armature carries a forwardly extending arm 25 which engages with an arm 26 secured upon a shaft 27. A quadrant lever 28 is loosely supported upon the shaft 27 and has spring connection with the shaft as shown in Fig. 10 whereby tension is applied to the spring as the lever 26 is depressed by the arm 25 to turn the quadrant lever. The quadrant lever has toothed engagement 29 with a pinion 30 mounted upon a shaft 31 which in turn carries a gear wheel 82 with which engages pinion 33 of governor 34. The rate of movement of the quadrant lever is therefore determined by the governor limiting the speed of the lever in proporti'on to the length of time the armature is attracted. In order to turn the quadrant lever to normal position I provide a spring 35 connecting the arm 36 of the lever to an adjacent support. Also secured upon the shaft 27 is a lever 37 which extends downwardly along the side of the quadrant lever 28. A pair of oppositely rotatable toothed disks 39 and l0 are supported adjacent to said levers and in position to be engaged respectively by the pawls 41 and -1 the pawl l1 being pivotally supported on the downward extension 43 of the arm 25 in position to engage with the teeth of the disk 40,

magnet cu1t 12 circuit 68.

and the pawl 42 being pivotally supported upon the quadrant 28 in position to engage with the teeth of the disk 39. The pawls 41 and 42 are provided with controlling springs 44 and 45, respectively. Locking dogs 46 and 47 work in connection with the toothed disks, the locking dog 46 having pivotal support adjacent to the disk and the locking dog 47 being pivotally supported to the inner end of the arm 37. A restraining spring 48 is provided for the dog 47. In order to allow the pawls and dogs to be freed from the disks as hereinafter pointed out the dog 46 overlaps the pawl 42, and the pawls 42 and 41 carry pins 49 and 50 engaging with the dogs 4'7 and 46. Thus the lifting of the engaging end of the pawl 42 will raise the remaining pawl and dogs out of engagement with the disks. The pawl 42 has a downwardly extending outer end 51 designed to butt against the pin 52 when the quadrant lever is turned a predetermined amount to turn the pawl 42 upon its pivot and disengage the pawls and dogs from the teeth of the disks.

In sending the impulses the long dash at the end of the 59th minute will hold the armature 24 closed long enough to allow the controlling spring of the quadrant lever to throw said lever far enough to bring the downwardly extending end of the pawl against the pin 52 and disengage the pawls and dogs from the disks. The springs 60 will turn the disks into the position shown in Fig. 6, with their lugs 61 and 62 bearing against the opposite sides of the stop 63 leaving the disks in position to be actuated by the pawls during the following minute. During the 60th minute the 2 second dashes and spaces result in opening and closing the armature to cause the pawls to alternately turn the disks a tooth at a time. The 2 seconds closure of the armature will be just suflicient to throw the quadrant lever far enough to turn the disk 39 one tooth through the medium of the pawl 42. A shorter impulse than 2 seconds will not throw the quadrant far enough and a longer closure than 2 seconds will throw it far enough to bring the downwardly extending end of the pawl 42 into engagement with the post 52 to release all the pawls and dogs. It thus becomes evident why the shorter impulses of the preceding minutes will not give alternate step by step rotation to the disks 39 and 40.

The step by step rotation of the disks 39 and 40 caused by the two second dashes and spaces of the 60th minute brings the disks into position with their notches 64 and 65 alining. This allows the point of the switch lever 66 to drop into the notches 64 and 65 thus closing the contact 67 of the The mechanism of the clock having previously closed a switch completing the circuit 12, the main circuit will next be closed by the dash at the end of the 60th minute, and this impulse through the circuit 12 and the circuit 68 will synchronize the clock 69 by suitable synclironizing mechanism not shown. An electro magnet 71 is arranged in connec tion with the clock 69 as a part of the circuit 68. The switch 70 may be opened in any desired manner as by the mechanism of the clock 69 immediately after the synchronizing.

It will thus be evident that the sending of the word Time during the 57th minute and the dots in the 58th and 59th minute will not rotate the disks to allow synchronizing of the clock 69 inasmuch as it takes a two seconds closure of the armature 24 to actuate the disk 40 through the medium of the pawl 42. The disk 39 will be turned one notch each time the armature 24 is opened inasmuch as the opening of the armature 24 actuates the pawl 41. The disks 39 and 40 will be returned to normal position by the dash at the end of the 58th second and the end of the 59th second inasmuch as the dash is longer than 2 seconds and will, as hereinbefore described, pull the quadrant lever 28 far enough to disconnect all the pawls and dogs. Both the disks 39 and 40 are thus in starting position at the beginning of the 60th minute to be alternately actuated by the two second dashes and spaces.

I claim as my invention:

1. A system of the class described comprising a signal system sending means, a main line or circuit controlled by said means, a secondary circuit and a local clock, synchronizing means arranged in connection with said local clock, whereby the signal system sending means at predetermined times sends a predetermined system of signals over the main lines and through the medium of said predetermined system of signals operates the local clock synchronizing means.

2. A system of the class described comprising signal system sending means, a main line or circuit controlled by said means, a secondary circuit controlled by said main circuit, a local clock arranged in connection with said secondary circuit, and means for synchronizing the local clock through the medium of a predetermined system of signals preliminarily sent over the main line at predetermined times by the signal system and a dii'ferent system thereafter sent over the main line.

3. A system of the class described comprising a signal system sending means, a main line or circuit controlled by said means, a secondary circuit controlled by said main circuit, a local clock arranged in connection with said secondary circuit and synchronizing mechanism arranged in connection With said local clock, actuatable through the medium of a special system of telegraphing dots and dashes sent over the main line at predetermined times by the signal system, said mechanism being so constructed and arranged as not to be actuatable by longer or shorter dots and dashes.

4. A system of the class described comprising a signal system sending means, a main circuit controlled by said means, a secondary circuit controlled by said main circuit, a local clock arranged in connection with said secondary circuit, apparatus included in the signal means for sending signals over the main line at predetermined minutes, and mechanism actuated through the medium of the signals sent during the last minute to automatically throw said secondary clock into circuit with said signaling means and synchronize said clock.

5. A system of the class described corriprising a signal system sending means, a main circuit controlled by said means, a secondary circuit controlled by said main circuit, a local clock arranged in connection with said secondary circuit, apparatus included in the signal means for sending signals over the main line at predetermined minutes and mechanism actuated through the medium of the signals sent during the last minute to automatically throW said local clock into circuit With said signal means and synchronize said clock, and means for thereafter automatically throwing said local clock out of circuit with said signal means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ERNEST A. HUMMEL.

Witnesses:

H. S. JoHNsoN, HATTIE SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

